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M. GUETT.

SPACING WASHER.

APPUCATION FILED JULY 6,1917.

1,3 1 1,344. Patented July 29, 1919.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR.

onroe Guelt- THE COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH (20., wAsmNdroN. C.

UNITED STATES ,P OFFICE.

MONROE GUETT, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TOiTHE HART.& HEGEMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF'HARTFORD, CONNECTIGUE- -A:CORPORATION OF CONN EGTICUT.

SPAGING-WASHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

7 Patented July 29, 1919.

Application filed July 6, 19 17. Serial No. 178,922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MONROE GUETT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hartford, Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spacing-Washers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an adjustable spacing washer for the pur pose of eliminating end-play of a member which is mounted in a supporting part and secured against complete displacement by fixed collars.

The invention is illustrated in its use in an electrical switch, where it is of particular advantage in accurately positioning the spindle to compensate for variations in the switch base, due to shrinkage or warping in manufacture.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a simple form of electrical snap switch in connection with which the invention is used.

Fig. 2 is a plan and edge view of the adjustable washer.

Fig. 3 a perspective view of a modification.

Referring to the drawings, a denotes the base of the switch which may be of any insulating composition, usually porcelain, made in any shape desired or required to accommodate a particular switch mechanism. In the case illustrated the base is recessed at top and bottom, a central aperture as at Z; to receive the spindle c on which, in this case, the snap mechanism for the moving blades is assembled and indicated generally at e. This snap mechanism will not be described in detail since it forms no part of the present invention. f f are the stationary contacts mounted on the upper side of the base and with which the blades cooperate. 2 is a stop plate forming a part of the snap mechanism and also forming a collar fitting in the recess in the upper side of the base, the lower endof the spindle projecting below the collar for asuflicient distance to pass through the base. Usually a plain flat washer is fitted onto the lower end of the spindle which is notched just be} low the washer to receive a split collar 3. The spindle is thus permanently secured in the base but it must be held against longitudinal motion in order that the switch blade shall always be properly alined with the sta tionary contacts. The distance between the two collars 2, 3 is of a known amount and the thickness of the base, plus the washer, is intended to just fill in this space. It often happens that, owing to shrinkage durmg the manufacture of the base, a little clearance is left which would give the spindle end-play in the base.

In accordance with my invention I substitute for the plain washer heretofore used an adjustable washer 5 which, as here shown, is made of a dead soft material which when bent will take a permanent set and be free from any spring action. As illustrated, the washe is provided with plurality of downwardly bent fingers 6, which may be arranged circumferentially, as shown in Fig. 2, or radially as illustrated in Fig. 3, or otherwise as may be desired, but presenting two contacting surfaces one being the top of the washer and the other being the bottom of the fingers 6, the parts 5, 6, being movable relatively to one another axially of the washer in order to vary its thickness. When the spindle is to'be assembled in the base, the adjustable washer isfitted to the spindle and forced down until the split collar 3 can be slid onto the notched end of the spindle. Thus, without exerting any spring action which would interfere with the snap action of the switch mechanism, and without exerting any pressure on the porcelain, which might tend to crack it, the spindle is held securely in the base and all possibility of end-play eliminated. The adjustment of the washer is accomplished as part of the operation of assembling the spindle in the base, eliminating the necessity of the separate machining of any special part in order to secure the proper fit.

While the invention finds a peculiar utility in connection with the manufacture of map switches, I do not desire it to be understood it is limited to this particular use.

I claim as my inventionf 1. An adjustable spacing washer formed of bendable, non-resilient material and comprising a main body part and fingers formed integrally therewith and bent out of the plane of said body part.

2. An adjustable washer formed from soft non-resilient material and comprising a main body part eireumfereiitially ar ranged fingers bent outof the plane of said able axiallyito Vary the thickness of said body part. 'Washer. V 10 3. An adjustable spacing Washer corn- 4. An adjustable spacing Washer formed prising parts one of which is supported by of bendable, non-resilient material and hav- 5 the'other, the contacting face'of one part ing portions bent out of the plane of its being out of the plane of the corresponding body part. face of the other part, said parts being free of spring action and relatively mov- MONROE GUETT.

Copies of this patent niay he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0. V 

